Creighton at Drake

[WuShockNation]

Wrong thread, but why didnt Artino play against the Shox

[denjayfan1]

Wrong thread, but why didnt Artino play against the Shox

My guess is that the coaches didn't think he could match the physicality of Orupke and Hall on defense.

[Ace Dad]

Well I am hoping that at the end of the season this game can be looked back as just one of those nights where Creighton just had a little stumble along the way, and that its not a sign of bigger issues. I think the depth issues with the loss of Josh Jones is starting to rear its head a little bit with this team (this isn't an excuse for CU's two straight losses of course, but definitely a contributing factor - and every team has to go through it during a point through the season). Especially with Ethan Wragge appearing to being entering into his usual mid-season shooting slump, CU is lacking a real go-to-guy off the bench. This is an issue that Greg McDermott needs to shore up for the Jays to have any chance to get back on top of the Valley and make any type of run in the tournament in March - players like Nevin Johnson, Dingman and Artino need to step it up, and fast (also something to note is the lack of playing time for Andre Yates - don't know what happened there).

I guess one good thing is that this 2 game skid has certainly tempered the fan-bases' expectations, which is a good thing especially with all the talk before the WSU game of an "undefeated conference season" and the like. The Valley regular season title is definitely still within reach, the Jays just need to get it back together and take care of business like they were before the loss in Wichita. The Valley certainly isn't one of the stronger conferences in the country top to bottom, but still on any given night - a perceived "Thursday night team" can still bring their A game and knock off one of the teams at the top - its the fun of college basketball - whether its good or not for the conference can be debated on Selection Sunday (and even then, the team that put itself in that "bubble" position only needs to look into the mirror and blame itself).

It is difficult to play with only seven players. Starters + Wragge + Dingman. Yes, I am aware of Artino.

When foul trouble arises, trouble ensues.
With only seven players, fatigue ensues. Then tired shots and reduced defensive effort follows.

Did I run off into the ditch with these comments?

Your coach can go deeper on the bench.

[WestOmahaBluejay]

Well I am hoping that at the end of the season this game can be looked back as just one of those nights where Creighton just had a little stumble along the way, and that its not a sign of bigger issues. I think the depth issues with the loss of Josh Jones is starting to rear its head a little bit with this team (this isn't an excuse for CU's two straight losses of course, but definitely a contributing factor - and every team has to go through it during a point through the season). Especially with Ethan Wragge appearing to being entering into his usual mid-season shooting slump, CU is lacking a real go-to-guy off the bench. This is an issue that Greg McDermott needs to shore up for the Jays to have any chance to get back on top of the Valley and make any type of run in the tournament in March - players like Nevin Johnson, Dingman and Artino need to step it up, and fast (also something to note is the lack of playing time for Andre Yates - don't know what happened there).

I guess one good thing is that this 2 game skid has certainly tempered the fan-bases' expectations, which is a good thing especially with all the talk before the WSU game of an "undefeated conference season" and the like. The Valley regular season title is definitely still within reach, the Jays just need to get it back together and take care of business like they were before the loss in Wichita. The Valley certainly isn't one of the stronger conferences in the country top to bottom, but still on any given night - a perceived "Thursday night team" can still bring their A game and knock off one of the teams at the top - its the fun of college basketball - whether its good or not for the conference can be debated on Selection Sunday (and even then, the team that put itself in that "bubble" position only needs to look into the mirror and blame itself).

It is difficult to play with only seven players. Starters + Wragge + Dingman. Yes, I am aware of Artino.

When foul trouble arises, trouble ensues.
With only seven players, fatigue ensues. Then tired shots and reduced defensive effort follows.

Did I run off into the ditch with these comments?

Your comments make plenty of sense... the Jays bench was already short when the season started, then Jones is forced to leave the team, and a player that could play quality minutes and bring a spark to the team was lost. Like I stated above, teams lose players to various issues - whether its health or off the court actions, etc, so something like this has to be expected and planned for. The appearance of slow development in the "other" bench players such as Nevin Johnson and Andre Yates has contributed to the starters playing long minutes, hence wearing them down - which leads to "reduced defensive effort" which in turn leads to more fouls\foul trouble.

For CU to be successful the rest of the season, the bench players need to step up and play more quality minutes. Wragge and Dingman obviously have shown on the floor that they can step up when they are needed to in most cases, but Artino, Johnson and to an even greater extent Yates have not proven that - even though the two latter players came into this season with high hopes. I still think Johnson has a ton of potential and the growing pains he is facing on the floor are what most freshmen are faced with... but unless he steps it up, the starters are going to be faced with longer minutes down the stretch... which isn't a good thing in a marathon like the college basketball season is. Slumps will come and go, but the Jays last night fell victim to a Drake team that was sparked by a very productive bench - in fact from what I saw - the Drake bench players were the X-factor in the game.

[DUBulldog]

Very surprised that Drake was able to beat Creighton without shooting very well (8-22 from 3, 18-30 from the line). DU definitely played with more toughness than I've seen all season.

Phelps might have saved his job with that game, but it means nothing if they can't continue playing that way. It definitely looked like he had lost the team in the loss at UNI. The 30 point margin was much deceiving....it really wasn't that close.

[DUBulldog]

Slumps will come and go, but the Jays last night fell victim to a Drake team that was sparked by a very productive bench - in fact from what I saw - the Drake bench players were the X-factor in the game that was the difference.

Phelps shortened the bench a little compared to most games.....but DU had 3 bench players step up big time for a combined 43 points...

Richard Carter 20 points, 7 rebounds (Drake's point guards had 11 rebounds in the game)
Daddy Ugbede 12 points, 5 rebounds
Jeremy Jeffers 11 points

Bulldogs haven't shown it often, but there's a lot of fairly talented players on the team.....Phelps just hasn't been able to consistently meld them into a cohesive unit.

[shoxrox]

I wonder what Jays26 and DeanthonyBowden have to say about this loss? Too bad one is MIA and the other is sailing to the south of France on his yacht.

I'm concerned with the whereabouts of DoubleJayAlum and LJay. I think this may be a record of consecutive hours without a DoubleJay post on here. And LJay hasn't posted in close to a week.

Guess this really came out of left field for a few and it has affected their psyches.

[valleychamp]

shoxrox is totally a new poster, you guys. He has absolutely no idea who wsubballer is...

[shoxrox]

shoxrox is totally a new poster, you guys. He has absolutely no idea who wsubballer is...

You've stated this before. What's your point?

Again, great addition to the thread, Panther fan. Why don't you go back to your board and get excited about your new renewed at-large chances your fan base is again clamoring about.

P.S. Maybe you're in need of a name change. A bit out-dated...

[valleychamp]

shoxrox is totally a new poster, you guys. He has absolutely no idea who wsubballer is...

You've stated this before. What's your point?

Again, great addition to the thread, Panther fan. Why don't you go back to your board and get excited about your new renewed at-large chances your fan base is again clamoring about.

P.S. Maybe you're in need of a name change. A bit out-dated...

baller,

My point is for you to finally man up and admit that you are on your 3rd username on this board. Which, btw, is something that you would have just loved to attack someone else for if they did the same. Its funny that you continue to lie about who you are, while at the same time you are not capable of reeling in your e-personality one single bit while doing so, which makes is so laughably obvious to everyone that its you.

Change my name? Nah, I've got nothing to hide on here. That stuff is for guys like you to do. Maybe you should head back to shockernet and tattle to everyone over there about how bad this place is like you usually do (while simultaneously being one of the most frequent posters here).

I have asked you before, but what is your infatuation with the "UNI at-large" talk. Can you tell me what anyone said, anywhere, which was outlandish regarding this topic? You have clung to this nonexistent meme for many weeks now, rubbing it in people's faces (who, idk?) as if they had previously been talking junk or making crazy predictions.